Next up: the freebie BlackDiscus Nano discs. I was intrigued at one of the recommendations to place one each on the +ve speaker terminals at the power amp. What on Earth could that do? The discs come with a blob of Blu-Tac so I stuck them onto each post, feeling a little silly.

Nope, I heard nothing different on the same Dire Straits as before. However, playing Strong by London Grammar revealed loads going on. Am I still hearing the good effects of the USB cable? I don't know and I'm not opening up the Audiophonics case again.

Hold on, putting Six Blade Knife back on, something is really gelling. Don't know what exactly, must experiment more with these later.

Finally: the BlackDiscus Nano Donuts over the two transformers in my LKS DAC.

Yes, yes, I KNOW I'm working through them fast but a) I have an 04:40 alarm in the morning so I'm a kid with toys and bedtime is looming, and b) it's the accumulated result that does it for me, so I can listen to the whole lot and forget about the hardware again.

Wow, that's different. Smoooooooth! What they do for vocals is take away the edges and make multiple vocals much, much easier to differentiate. There is a little more tonality, too, as if someone has turned the colour up a little. In the London Grammar, there is deep continuo bass accompaniment and I can hear it better as Hannah Reid is giving it her all.

Moving over to more difficult material, my favourite Mozart Requiem with Fruhbeck de Burgus conducting, the massed choirs in the Dies Irae section are much easier to follow and better differentiated.

Going back to the music now, full review when I've gathered my thoughts on what I'm hearing.

It's very pleasing as my session continued and I became aware of an increase in definition of different voices while at the same time being overall easier on the ear. I played some very testing vocals, as well as massed choir, and the result was always increased definition and easier to listen to.

More tomorrow, but I came away with a big smile.

That's interesting, thanks for that Martin.

I have always found the newer DMD tweeter to be set too 'hot' with an uplifted balance compared with the original Be tweeter in mine. Of course, it's been a couple of years since I last heard Be-20 DMDs (the Hi-Fi World room at the Beaumont) and it could well be that the system synergy wasn't to my liking. I can't help feeling that the Be tweeter and midrange, using very difficult to work with beryllium, were maybe too expensive and difficult to manufacture?

In any case, I'd like to hear the new TD-20 as maybe the DMD tweeter and midrange are better integrated as a whole. One thing's for sure, those Eton woofers are easily able to keep up and were a great choice to start with. I remain in awe of my Be-20's ability to keep up with my system changes over the years, just raising their game over and over. They have superb midrange and do voice exceptionally well, which is why I can't see myself ever moving them on.


Nice review:
positive-feedback.com/reviews/hardware-reviews/usher-td-10-loudspeakers/

That does look very bright in the picture.

I’ve been thinking about lighting, is it possible to place screens / lenses in front of the lights to make it more diffuse / soft?

Also to alter the colour of the lighting? When I’m back in the UK it’s one thing I want to get right, I don’t want my room feeling like a surgery, as it can do now.

What are those LEDs Martin ?
Our lighting could do with rethinking

Mains powered GU10 5W bulbs. No SMPS, I chose them for that. Also have a snap choke on each one.

EDIT: Mike, I found them on eBay.

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MiniSun-Modern-Energy-Saving-LED-GU10-Floor-Standard-Lamp-Lounge-Uplighter/382417302676?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&var=651183494547&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

I like the "Cement effect" option. MiniSun is a reputable brand too.